Container for a checkerboard and pieces



March 14, 1950 D. J. HORVATH 2,500,824

CONTAINER FOR A CHECKERBOARD AND PIECES Filed Dec. 22, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet 1 /& ZZ Z? ZZMe WHZZya March 14. 1950 D. J. HORVATH2,500,824

' CONTAINER FOR A CHECKERBOARD AND PIECES Filed Dec. 22, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 9% WJ M 527295.

Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFrcE CONTAINER FOR ACHECKERBOARD AND v PIECES Daniel J. Horvath, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 22, 1947, Serial No. 793,141

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-136) This invention relates to a checkerboard andcontainer therefor.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved checkerboardand container of the kind to be more particularly described hereinafter,whereby the checkerboard and associated checkers therefor may becontained in a compact container which will occupy a minimum space aswhen travelling and provide a suitably large board for the actual use of.the game as such.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kindhaving a cylindrical container for the checkers in which device theflexible checkerboard may be Wound about the container when not in useto provide an attractive compact container for the various g'am'e piecesand the game board.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved gamecontainer within which the game board and associated game pieces may becontained in a minimum space in such a manner that the game board andthe game pieces may be separately removed from within the container. Thegame board is made of suitable flexible material whereby it may becoiled or wound about a suitable reel within the container and may bereadily unwound when it is desired to use the game.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kindwhich may be manufactured with a minimum amount of labor, materials andtools, while providing an attractive, serviceable compact unit forconventional home and travelling use.

With the above and other objects in View, my invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in thedrawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of the checkerboard container in a closedposition constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the container with the checkerboard in anextended position,

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1,

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed section showing the reel member withthe checkerboard attached thereto,

Figure 7 is an end view of the container,

to be described hereinafter.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detailed elevation of an end of the containershowing the attachment of the closure therefor.

Referring to the drawings,the numeral I0 designates generally animproved container for enclosing a flexible checkerboard or the like andthe associated checkers or game pieces therein. The-- checkers or gamepieces are contained within the body of the container I0 in such amanner that the flexible game board may be wrapped or wound around thecheckers for enclosing both the checkerboard and the checkers in thebody, whereby the entire device will take up a minimum amount of room,providing a novel and useful container for travelling.

The container III is formed with an outer body II, and an inner body I2,rotatably mounted therein. The outer body II is formed of an elongatedcylindrical tube which is made of plastic or metal or other suitablematerial. An end wall as I4 is fixed at one end of the body II, spacedslightly inwardly from the extreme edge thereof.

The Wall l4 isprovided with a central opening I5 therein concentric tothe body I I, for purposes I A ring as l6 carried by the body I I formsa second end wall which is fixed in the tube II at the opposite end fromthe wall I4 and is formed with an enlarged central opening IT. Theopening I! is of substantially the'same diameter as the inside diameterof the inner tube or reel member I2.

The wall I6 is spaced inwardly from the extreme end of the body II. Thebody II and reel member l2 are open at this end of the container ID forthe insertion of the game pieces l8 within the container. A centralcylindrical member I2 is formed of an elongated tubular body open atboth ends thereof. The body I2 is formed of plastic 'or other suitablematerial in the same manner as the outer body I I. The length of thereel member I2 is considerably shorter than the length of the outer bodyI I so that the reel member may be contained wholly within the outerbody.

'l'ne reel member I2 is formed with a ring or bearing I9 at one endthereof, engaging the outer surface of the reel I2, and the innersurface of the body 11, for spacing the inner surface of the outer bodyfrom the outer surface of the reel member. The bearing or ring I9 isprovided with an enlarged central opening 20 for engagement with theouter surface of the reel I2 at this end where it is secured by gluingor other suitable. fastening means. The ring or hearing I9 is spacedinwardly a slight distance from the extreme end of the reel I 2.

A plurality of notches 2| are provided about the periphery of the reelmember I2, each being radially disposed relative thereto.

A second bearing member as 22 is fixed on the opposite end of the reelmember I2, engaging about the outer surface of the body I2 to'which itis fixed, and slidablyengaging the inner surface of the outer body I I.The bearing 22 spaces thisend of the reel member from the body II in thesame manner as the bearing I9, for supporting the reel member concentricto the body.

in inwardly spaced relation relative thereto.

The extreme end as 24 of this end of the reel member abuts the innersurface of the apertured end wall I6 of the body II for holding thereel.

member against sliding movement from this end of the container IO. Mreel member I2 is in substantial alignment with the inner peripheraledge of the wall It,- the. openingof the reel member is in alignment andregisters with the opening III. whereby checkers I8 maybe inserted intothe reel member I2 from without thebody lI.v

A bolt as25, havingan outer head 26- thereon engages; through thecentral opening. 2-1. of the closure member 28. which closes the openend of the reel member I2 and-the associated end of the body II. portedon thebolt 25 which engages through the hub 30; The pointer. 29 isprovided as an added decoration at this end of the container I-ll.v

An abutment member as 3| is fixed on the inner end of the bolt 25, beingspaced inwardlyfrom the inner surface of the closure plate 28 by aWasher or spacer '32.. The abutment member 31 isv annular in shape,having a flat inner surface for engagement with the flat surface of theend checker I8 .containedwithin the reel I2. The engagement of theabutment member 3 I with thecheckers 48. holds the checkers securely-vwithin the reel member I2 to hold them from rattling or beinglooselydisposed therein.

A spider 34. engages the. opposite .end of the" reel member I2. Thespider 34 is provided with a central, hub. as 35, having radially,extending arms 35. The arms 36. are adapted'to engage within the slots2| of this, end of the. reel member I2. Thev bolt I whichengagesthrough. the

end wall I4 of the body II engages through a central opening 36 ofthehub .35 where it .is secured by a nut 31.

I 6 thereof, is formed with segmental arcuate slots 42 therein,extending 1 circumferentially of the body I I outwardly of the wall I6.

A longitudinally disposed opening as -44"at the extreme endof the'bodyI- I opens-into one end of the slot 42, providing a keyway. Radiallydisposed lugs as 45 are fixed: to'or formed on 'oppoe site sides of theciosureplate 28. The lugs/45. are. adapted to be engaged. within theopenings 44 and 42, for removably securing the closure plate 28 on thebody I I. The lugs 45 are of substantially the same width as thecircumferential opening-4.4 and areqofsubstantially the same thicknessas As the inner surface of the A plastic pointer 29- is rotatably sup- Alooped handle as 38 is. rockably'carried by the head. 39' of the bolt I5outwardly of the container I0. Washers as 40.

4 the width of the opening 42, whereby the cover 28 may be engaged onthe body II by sliding the lugs axially of the bod through the openings44 and then rotating the closure 28 for disposin the lugs 45 within thenarrow end 42 of the composite opening.

An elongated flexible game board as 46 is adapted to be contained Withinthe container I0, between the reelgmember I2 and the body II. The gameboard '46 is formed with an elongated substantially square body 41. Theflap as 48 is fixed to or carried by one end of the body 41 and extendssubstantially one-half the length of one side'of the board. The flap 48is truncated as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and is adapted to beextended through a longitudinal opening 49in one wall of thebody II. Theinner end of the flap 48 is adapted to besecured to the outer surf-aceof the reel member I2 within the body II by being glued thereto or byother suitable fastening means.

A closure member as 54 is fixed on the opposite edge of the flexiblegame board 46 in substantial alignment with the flap 48. The closuremember 59 is formed of an elongated strip of plastic or other metal ofwhich the body II is made, and is slightly arcuate in cross section, asshown in Figure 4 of the drawings, having the same are as the wall ofthe body I i. The closure member 50-is adapted to be contained Withinthe opening 49 for closing this opening when the ame board 4545" whollycontained within the body I I;

A-handleas 51 is carriedby the outer surface of the closure 50 tofacilitate the handling thereof and the extraction of the game board. Aspringpressed hook member as 52 is carried by the body II adjacent oneedge of the opening 49. The hook member 52- includes a bolt 54 fixed inthe body II, and an arm or hook 55 rotatable about the bolt 54 andpartially engageable over one edge of the closure 56.

The flexible game board '46 is adapted to be folded along a central linefor disposing the game board in a doubled relation before winding thegame-board into the container I0. In this manner the game board may bereadily enlarged when it is withdrawn from the container to facilitatethe-usethereo-f.

In the use and; operation of the game board container I0 describedabove, starting from the closed position thereof, the game board 46 maybeunreeled by moving the hook member 52 to the open position out ofengagement with the closure 50. By drawing the handle .51 and theclosure 56 outwardly from the body 4 I, the game board is withdrawn fromthe outer body II and the reel member I2 is rotated as the game boardslides outwardly through the opening 49.

When the game board is totally disposed outwardly of the bodyI I, it maybe unfoldedalong its central line to a, position as shown in Figure 2 ofthe drawings.

The cap 28 may then be removed from the end of the body II-and thegamepieces or checkers I8 removed therefrom, For bringing the game board 46back into the body II, it must be first folded along the central line sothat one-half of the game board overlies that half of the game boardhaving the. flap. -43 thereon. By rotating the looped handle 38, thespider 34 having the arms 36 engaging in the slotted end of the reelmember 52 will rotate, the reel member and the game board 46 will berolled'about the reel member I2 within the bOdy. II. The closure 50 willthen be moved up into the opening 49 for closing this opening, and thelatch 55 may be rotated about the bolt 54 for securing the closure 50 inplace.

The spring 59 about the bolt 59, between the head 57 thereof and thebody ll, constantly presses the latch 55 into engagement with the outersurface of the closure 50. The checkers l8 may be then stored within theopening of the reel member H and the closure 28 engaged in the openings94 and 42 of the outer body H for closing this end of the body II andreel 12 for confining the checkers therein.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of constructionherein disclosed, but claim all variations falling Within the purview ofthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A container for a flexible game board and correlated game piecescomprising a tubular body open at one end and closed at the other endthereof, a tubular open ended reel member rotatably and slidablydisposed within said body, said reel member being concentric with andspaced inwardly from said body, the end of said reel member adjacent tothe closed end of said body being formed with a plurality oflongitudinal slots, a spider member rotatably carried by said closedend, engaging in said slots, means connected to said spider and disposedoutwardly of said closed end for rotating said spider and said reelmember, a plurality of endwise opening keeper slots formed in said bodyadjacent the open end thereof, a closure plate engageable in said openend to retain said reel member in said body and having means thereon forresisting endwise movement of game pieces disposed within said reelmember, and marginal tabs on said closure plate to removably engage saidkeeper slots for holding said closure plate in reel member retainingposition.

2. A container for a flexible game board and correlated game piecescomprising a tubular body open at one end and closed at the other endthereof and formed with a longitudinally extending game board receivingslot alOng the length thereof, a tubular reduced diameter open endedreel member, to which the game board is fastened, disposedconcentrically within said body and rotatable and slidable relativethereto, endwise opening longitudinal slots formed in the end of saidreel member adjacent to the closed end of said body, a spider memberrotatably carried by said closed end of said body removably engaging insaid slots, means connected to said spider member and disposed outwardlyof said closed end for rotating said spider member and said reel member,a plurality of keeper slots formed in said body adjacent the open endthereof, a closure plate engageable in said open end to retain said reelmember in said body, means carried centrally on said plate and extendinginwardly of said body for resisting endwise movement of game piecesdisposed within said reel member, and marginal tabs on said closureplate slidably engaging within said keeper slots for holding saidclosure plate in reel member retaining position.

3. A container for a flexible game board and correlated game piecescomprising a tubular body open at one end and closed at the other endthereof and formed with a longitudinally extending game board receivingslot along the length thereof, a tubular reduced diameter open endedreel member to which the game board is attached disposed concentricallywithin said body and rotatable and slidable relative thereto, cutoutsformed in the edge of said reel member adjacent to the closed end ofsaid body, means rotatably carried by said closed end removably engagingin said cutouts for rotation of said reel member, a plurality of keeperslots formed in said body adjacent the open end thereof, a closure plateengageable in said open end to retain said reel member within said body,means mounted centrally on said plate and extending inwardly of saidbody for resisting endwise movement of game pieces disposable withinsaid reel member, and means carried by said closure plate to slidablyengage in said keeper slots for holding said closure plate in reelmember retaining position.

DANIEL JOSEPH HORVATH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Feb. 12, 1903

